Barcelona have offered their support to defender Dani Alves after he was
subjected to racist abuse during Sunday's 3-2 win at Villarreal.
Gerardo Martino's men came from behind to claim all three points at El
Madrigal in La Liga, but the game was marred by an incident in the 76th minute
as a fan threw a banana at the feet of Alves as he prepared to take a corner.
However, the Brazil international offered a light-hearted retort,
picking up and eating the banana as he took the set-piece instead of throwing
it away.
The 30-year-old insisted afterwards that humour is the best way to deal
with racism, jokingly thanking the fan in question for giving him "the
energy for the two crosses which led to a goal".
And the Catalan club have now given their backing to the former Sevilla
man, while also commending Villarreal for immediately condemning the actions of
the supporter.
A statement on the club's official website read: "FC Barcelona
would like to underline the civil, cultural, social and sporting importance of
two messages which UEFA remind us of before every game: Respect and No to
Racism.
"FC Barcelona wishes to express its complete support and solidarity
with our first-team player Dani Alves, following the insults he was subject to
from a section of the crowd at El Madrigal on Sunday during the game against
Villarreal.
"FC Barcelona accepts that the perpetrators of these insults are in
no way connected to Villarreal and we value very positively the support the
club offered to our player.
"The club's immediate condemnation of the incidents is a step in
the right direction to firstly isolate and then eradicate completely from the
sporting arena this kind of behaviour.
"FC Barcelona reiterates its support for UEFA's message of Respect
and No to Racism and urges all clubs to continue fighting against the blight on
the game which any kind of aggression against a sportsperson on the basis of
their race represents."
Culled from Soccerway
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